Track belt for track-laying tractors



March El 1924.

c. F. HEINKEL TRACK BELT FOR TRACK LAYING TRACTORS Filed July 23. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [/7/75//5/7/FHE/77k/ BY Mu, /dm'a VzMl/l/ ATTORNEY5 HAS?? March il 1924.

C. F. HEINKEL TRACK BELT FOR TRACK LAYING TRACTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. im C C w kan w w a f p, if f i y Y |1| d Illu), f6 1V. J 1x1 l .m I JFT l Eriwmfl,

:Mil #u v Z655) if Liz m if ATI'ORNEYJr Patented ii, E924.` A

r. annum., or CLEVELAND. omo, Assioma To, man cLEvELANn TRACTOR COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A CORPORATION OIIE. OHIO.

TRACK BELT FOR TRACK-LAYING' TRACTORS.

Application led July 28, 1920. Serial No. 398,456.

To aZZ whom t ma? concern:

Be it known that ,CHRISTIAN F. HEINKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Track Belts for Track-Laying Tractors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. The object of this invention is to provide 'l0 a serviceable, inexpensive track belt for track laying tractors made up of units or links which are formed of pressed metal parts.A

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and pointed out definitely in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a plan View of a portion of a track belt which embodies the invention in its preferred form; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the part shown in Flg. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the link sides in thdplane of line 3--3 on Fig. 6; Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sectional views on lines 4-4 and 5 5 of Fig. 8, through two of said link sides when their construction is lslightly modified as compared to that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of said link s1d es; Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof looklng into the open side of said link,and Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a track belt of slightly modified construction. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a part of a track belt of modified construction. Fig. 10 is a sectio'nal side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9 on line 10-10 of said Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section in the plane of line 11-11 on Fig. 9; Fig. 12 1s a vertical transverse section through one link side; Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of one of said link sides; Fig. 14 is a side elevation looking into the open side of a link side, and Fig. 15 is a sectional end view in the plane of line 15-15 on Fig. 9.

Each link is made up of three pieces, viz: a bottom plate or shoe 10, and two similar link sides 20. Each of these link sides is a sheet metal stamping,-the body 2,0a of which has long, flat, parallel top and bottom edges, and substantially half-round ends,-there being an integral ange around the margin of said body and at right angles thereto, said flange comprising a bottom portion 20b for engagement with the shoe, a top portion 2()c which serves as a rail or track for track wheels mounted on the tractor, and two end loops 20d, 20. A portion of the inner surfaces of these end loops are cylindrical, and are co-axial with and on t-he same radius as round holes 20t which are punched in body 20a near its ends.

To produce each link of the track belt, two of the described link sides are arranged in parallel relation on a shoe 10 extending longitudinally thereof. But on alternate links A and B these link sides are di'erently arranged with respect to each other and to the longitudinal central line of the shoe.

On links B the rail sides are arranged close together on opposite sides of the longitudinal central line of the shoe; while on links A the link sides are placed farther apart so that the link sideson the Vtwo contiguous links B may go between and overlap the link sides of the link A.

When the contiguous links are arranged as stated, the holes 2Ot in the overlappmg ends of the link sides should be in axial alignment. When they are, the inner surfaces of the overlapping loops 20d and 20, Will contribute to the formation of an eye for the reception of the pivot pin 30,- which will go through the said holes 20 and will be engaged by said loops.

rlhe drawing shows several specific ways in which the link sides and shoe may be constructed and combined to produce track belt units or' links.

These link sides may be secured to the shoe by bolts 25 or other suitable means, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; or these parts may be connected as shown in Figs. 9 to 15, inclusive, by other means as will be presently described.

The link sides may be so placed'that the flanges on all of them will extend toward the longitudinal central line of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 9. Or these flanges on the link A may be extended toward the center line of the shoe while those on the links B may be extended toward the edges of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 1. p

When the anges are extended in opposite directions, they may be made to nterlock, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8. In order that this may be done, notches 20s may bei e parts o ranges of the contiguous links.

On the B links, for example, these notches may be located at each end of the link side, at about the places where the ends of the top flange 20 join the end loops, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. On the A links the notches may be placed at about the juncture of the ends of the bottom portion of the .fange 20b with the end loops. These notchesl 20g should extend from the edges of the flanges back to the body portion 20c. When the two links whose link sides have their flanges notched 1s described are assembled the flanges on each link side will go into the notches of the other link side. rlhe width of these notches must be great enough to allow the links to turn on the pivot pins 30 4relative to each other.

When the flanges are made to interlock as shown the described top flanges of the sides of the connected links form an almost continuous rail for the track wheels. rlihis is an advantage principally because it permits the use of narrower track wheels. llt is desirable to provide guides for the said track wheels, especially when the flanges of the links interlock as described. Such guides may be provided by turning up the edges of the flanges on the A-links to form the upturned guide flanges 20, and by punching out longitudinal tongues from the top flanges of the B links and turning said tongues upward to form the flanges 201, which are ongitudinally aligned with the anges 20h,-all as shown in lFigs. 4, 5 and 8.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 is thought to be best, although, because the described notches weaken the flanges, it is necessary to use somewhat heavier metal in making the link sides.

In the construction shown in Figs( 9 to 15, inclusive, the shoe at one end is formed with longitudinally extended tongues 23 which are bent upward and then downward to form a loop, the end of each tongue or loop being made to engage with the top of the shoe and being secured thereby by welding or other suitable means. These loops are of such internal shape and dimensions that they rotatably embrace the pivot pin .30. `The end of the shoe which carries the loops is therefore suspended in proper relation to the link sides from the same pivot pin which connects said link sides. The parts of the shoe between these tongues is bent donwardv and then upward to form a ground engaging grouser 24 which is so constructed and placed that the adjacent end of the next shoe will overhang the end of the grouser, and be supported thereby. It is, of course, possible to secure the-llink sides by welding or other wise to the shoes, even when the shoes are provided with the described loops 23; and

1n some cases it may be desirable to do that.

The advantage of the construction herein v invention, I

each comprising an elongated cup having an end portion with a substantially continuous marginal flange having flat parallel top and bottom portions and approximately semi-cylindrical end loops, and means for securing said link sides in parallel relation upon said shoe.

2. A track belt unit consisting of a shoe, and two similar pressed metal link sides, each comprising an elongated cup having an end portion with an integral marginal flange having flat parallel top and bottom portions and approximately semi-cylindrical end loops, each body portion having adjacent each end a round hole which is axially aligned with and has the same radius as the inner surface of the adjacent end loop.

3. A track belt comprising a plurality of pivoted together units, each consistin of a shoe, and two similar pressed meta link sides,-each comprising an elongated cup having an end portion with -an integral marginal flange having flat parallel top and bottom portions and approximately semicylindrical end loops, the body portion having, adjacent each end, a round hole which is axially aligned with and has the same radius as the inner surface of adjacent end loops,-the link sides on every other link being inserted between the link sides of the intermediate links, so that the end loops of adjacent links overlap, and pivot pins for connecting said links, each pivot pin passing through the aligned holes of the overlapping parts of the link sides and through the eye formed by the overlapping end loops of the two link sides.

4. A track belt comprising a plurality ot pivoted together units, each consistin of a shoe, and two similar pressed meta link sides,each comprising a body portion and an integral marginal ilange havm flat parallel top and bottom portions, an approximately semi-cylindrical end loops, said flange having notches located adjacent the ends of the link sides and extending back to the body portion, and said body portion having adjacent each end a round hole which lill@ lll@ is axially aligned with and has the same radius as `the inner surfaces of the links and loops, said link sides being differently arranged with respect to each other on the shoe of alternate links as follows z-those on one set of links have their flanges turned toward the sides of the links and those on the adjacent links have their flanges turned toward the center line of the links but being farther apart than those on the links first named, the link sides of adjacent links being overlapped and with the flanges on the link sides of one link arranged to project into the notches on the link sides of adjacent links, and pivot pins each of which passes through the aligned holes of the overlapping link sides and through the eye formed by the overlapping end loops.

5. A track belt for tracklaying tractors composed of a plurality of units pivotally connected by pins, each of said units comprising link sides and a pressed metal shoe aving one end looped and embracing one of said pins, and a depending rib directly under said pin.

6. A track belt for tracklaying tractors composed of a plurality of pivotally connected units, each of said units comprising link sides held in alignment by a pivot pin and a pressed metal shoe havin one end looped to embrace said pin and icing susended thereby and having a depending rib irectly under said pin.

7. A track belt for track laying tractor composed of a plurality of pivotally connected units; each of said units comprising link sides held in alignment by a p1n, and a pressed metal shoe having one end thereof looped to embrace said pin and being suspended thereby, said shoe bearing against said link sides and having a depending rib.

8. A track belt unit consisting of a shoe, and two similar pressed metal link sides each comprising an elongated cup having an end portion With a substantially continuous marginal flange having flat parallel top and bottom portions and approximately semicylindri'cal end loops, eachk of said link sides being formed to be changed top for bottom upon said shoe, and means for securing said link sides in parallel relation upon said shoe.

9. A track belt unit consisting of a shoe, and two similar ressed metal link sides each comprising an e ongated cup having an end port1on with a substantially continuous marginal flange having flat parallel top and bottom portions and approximately semicylindrical-end loops, each of said link sides being formed to be changed end for end upon said shoe, and means for securing said link sides in parallel relation upon said shoe.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature.

CHRISTIAN F. HEINKEL. 

